Heartwork campfire

Finishing what we start– an invitation

2012-03-08T08:13:00.004-05:00

I want to invite you all to join me on March 23,24 and 25th for a completely free virtual weekend retreat. Wherever you may be, let’s join psychic forces and share the intention to move one of our projects (or more!) closer to completion.

Most of us have a backlog of unfinished business.

Most of us have creative projects, not quite abandoned, but left in some intermediate point between the sweet intensity of the beginning of a creative endeavor and the equally sweet but often loaded end.

Some projects may be close to being done but we just have not been able to do that last thing… or we have hesitated to call it “done” so we can move on. Having the project remain open and unfinished is often important to us.

Maybe over the course of the weekend we can finish something, wrap it up, release it…. or maybe we can move one of our projects closer to completion… or maybe the most we can do with the time available is to make an honest assessment about what it will take to bring one of our projects to some sort of closure…

And let’s take advantage of the moment and the shared experience to expand this to a more general atmosphere of assessment and release: What habits of thought or work habits or avoidance habits are no longer serving us? What can we let go of so we can more forward with a little less weight?

The retreat will open with a virtual campfire friday night the 23rd with a video greeting from me (view it anytime!)– and throughout the weekend I’ll be posting several videos and short entries to support the difficult but rewarding work of finishing and letting go.

The hope is that no matter where you are, no matter what your time zone, or family situation, or amount of energy or time, we can join together with the shared intention of addressing challenges in our creative lives with whatever time we have- 5 minutes, fine! a whole day? magnificent!

Even if you have just a few minutes to join in, stop by here or at at the heartwork site for a little support and community building (please share comments!)– I’ll be trying something new this time and I’ll be cross posting in both locations.

Closing campfire

2011-12-11T17:05:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone!
I invite you to cozy up around the fire and to take a few minutes to truly settle into wherever you are. Take a few deep breaths and acknowledge yourself for all that you accomplished this weekend. The creative process is rarely linear, rarely easy, rarely whatever we expect. It is such a treat to experience such a solitary endeavor in the company, however virtual, of others who truly get it, who understand both the struggle and the joy.

Above all else, I want to say thank you, so I will:

Please send links, images, anything you'd like for me to post. I'll be creating a web list on the right bar for anyone who'd like to share. I'll post this and then get started on that.
Thank you so much for creating with me. I so look forward to doing it again soon.

Knowing when to stop

2011-12-11T12:49:00.001-05:00

For a creative weekend, with time and opportunity which is so rare and precious, knowing when to stop is really hard. I want to keep going, get every drop out of the time available. But the truth is, I just need to stop. So, my brushes are washed, and tucked into their jars. My palette is scraped cleanish. Rags away. Apron folded. I need to move to a different medium, or move into collection mode, or into reflection mode, but it was time to stop painting.

My last three today (small paintings people, abstract landscapes), well, I like them so much I don't want to part with them. They are the paintings with the least paint, the most space, the least intended detail. They have the least number of colors, the smallest palette. I captured November. Texture, open, waiting, fallow... something essentially novembery.
I used my fingers and a rag, a paperclip, water. I tried new things this weekend, went way outside of my comfort zone of full strength paint, in big heavy layers...
And, for once, for these three, I stopped in time.

This was not always true this weekend, there is one painting here with three full heavy layers. I hated it , hated it again, hated it again. now it is blue. I have another with two layers and I hate it but am not sure how to fix it. The colors dried more vividly than I expected.

I also feel like I did not do everything I'd envisioned. I wanted to play with fog. But I will. I need to know that I will have another opportunity, and I will have the chance to explore.

So, anyway, for once heeding the call to stop: I've moved, for now, into reflection mode.

Along with reflection, real life is seeping in: I need to go run errands.
The baby is in here wanting to help me write.

**
Send me your websites -- I'll post them on the side bar!
And I'll be back this evening for the "closing" campfire.

Happy Accidents, Collecting, and Companionship

2011-12-11T10:25:00.001-05:00

Hello!
I'm getting a late start this morning, but am here with my mug of tea and two new mason jars filled with water. I am going to paint a bit more today, which feels quite amazing to say.

Vicki! I am not sure what the problem is with commenting/posting. I made sure that even anonymous folks can comment via the settings, but beyond that I am stymied. I am a mostly ignorant consumer of computer technology. I hate how frustrating it can be and love the miracles it enables. Please keep trying and if you need to, send email to me (you know I love it) and I will post for you.

Dara-- thank you so much for checking in too! Getting back to our own work is so important, and I think there is sweetness in finally putting pencil to paper. I am so glad you were able to do it!

I find that knowing that other folks are out there makes such a difference in the permission I give myself to do this. I feel as if we are all in the trenches together.

I so agree with Vicki about the importance of taking the time to really look at things. Even as a writer, my most important field trips are just that, walks outside, or drives through unfamiliar places. I try to give myself the gift of paying attention. It is as if I am banking the visual experiences for future use. I meant what I said in yesterday's video: dreaming/collecting is part of the process. It counts. Give yourself credit!

***

Today I wanted to write a bit about expectations and disappointment-- but I guess it boils down to this:
When I work, I have a big obstacle I create. I am not sure whether to call it My One Chance, or Perfection.. I usually feel time pressure to create right now! And/or I have a very specific vision.

For me, vision is important since it is a great motivator and gives an initial direction, but it can also be a big pain in the ass since I have never been able to actually achieve what I've envisioned. What I envision and what finally happens are completely different, and I spent years with a feeling of less-than and disappointment as I consistently missed the mark.

I am finally learning to let the painting process happen the way it does with me- a rather organic non-linear mix of initial vision/intention, adaptation, screwups, happy accidents.

As you work, what limitations do you come across that could be repurposed?
What can you do to make your own internal environment less hostile to the rather vulnerable act of creating?

I'd like to encourage lurkers and visitors to just say hello-- it is ok to be anonymous, but the page views are pretty high, so I know there are more folks out there. No matter what, I hope you feel welcome and enlivened by taking part in this community. I am so very glad to have this wonderful experience knowing you are out there.

I'll be posting again this afternoon and then for closing campfire tonight.
I hope you'll stop by when you can, and I'll be leaving the site active for the rest of the week for sure.

Bare branches, evening sky

2011-12-10T18:00:00.000-05:00

So, just like that it is evening. Only 3:05 and the sun is already well down behind the trees, and it feels so much later. This is a hard time of year for me, so dark so early, such short days. I was not able to paint any more, but I rocked the baby to sleep.I think that there is such a challenge in this, being a creative person with a real life that needs tending. I don't want to wait to do this once every few months, but maybe that is how it has to be right now. I am not at ease with that. I fight it. But it may just be true.I watch myself ebb and flow like this-- a creative frenzy followed by a fallow seeming period where other things get priority. I ache to create a different balance, where this can be part of my every-week (every-day) life. And I think I need to know, believe, and make sure that it is when it can be.How did things go for you today? Did you come up against your inner critic more than your muse? Did you find ways to procrastinate (eat, sleep, surf, shop) and avoid?Be gentle with yourself. Permission is hard. So is creating in the midst of real life. What about the dishes? The dog? The love? We forget that when we are fed, we are able so much more able to take care of others. I forget this all the time. For me, I think, this lifetime is about relearning and relearning and relearning.When I came back in here, I looked again at the paintings I made today, and am pretty astonished at what I was able to do in such a short time once the door was closed.One I am very much at odds with and may need a do-over, and one I wish I had stopped one layer sooner. I loved it almost, did one more layer and, yeah... dang. One that looks like a kid's entry into a fair craft show... but maybe that is ok. Tomorrow morning I hope to have another slice of time.I'll check back in in the morning, but encourage you to share links (thank you Dara!) and images and videos and whatever you wish-- please comment about your experiences, and see what other people share too. If you have time to create or share, create! I've decided to leave this open for a while at least, so if you have some reflections as the week begins, please feel free to stop back by and share.By the time this posts it will be night-time.Enjoy the moon.

The importance of dreaming

2011-12-10T12:34:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone!

Mid-morning inspiration

2011-12-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Stuck? In need of inspiration or support?
Here are three very different and yet all quite interesting links to check out. Time for only one? Head to Jen Lee's site for something quite magnificent. THE GAP. Be prepared to be awed.

Andrea Schroeder of The Creative Magic Academy has many resources and ecourses which I have not taken, but I am signed up for her newsletter and enjoy her voice very much.
She has some very simple-looking questions she asks, that often end up right at the heart of it.
From her website:

Where am I today in relation to my dream?
How does that feel?
What does my dream need?
What do I need?

(I know, YIKES, right? Might need chocolate.)

More cerebral? Here's a bit about recent research on the importance of creating FOR YOURSELF AND THE JOY OF IT.
http://lateralaction.com/motivation-creativity/

And last but not least, Jen Lee Rocks. Go watch, see why. Mind the gap.
http://www.jenlee.net/home/the-emerging-icon-series-the-gap.html

Morning after the Long Night Moon & some prompts!

2011-12-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning! I am so excited about today!
There are folks here from California and Canada, Connecticut and New Hampshire, and from Massachusetts and Maine! Painters, writers, knitters, crafters, foodies, photographers! I'm so happy to have you all along on this journey!

As we all move into the day, see if you can do so with compassion for what might not work so well, internally or externally, things that distract, things that pull your attention. And try to give yourself credit for showing up for this very important part of yourself.
It is so hard to do this creative work in the context of busy real lives... most of us do not make a living doing this work, instead, we take time here and there, and even then sometimes it feels like stealing, to do our work. If it is not for money, it takes second place, or third. We get out of practice of taking time. Of allowing ourselves time to explore and feed ourselves in this very important way.

As I write this, the sky is just lightening and the eastern sky has high clouds that are wrinkled like bedsheets. There is a very heavy frost and the trees are perfectly still.

I've got white christmas lights around my window, and feel such gratitude to have you all as part of the campfire this weekend.

Let's eke out what time we can, explore a little, and give ourselves permission to be imperfect, and some compassion when things get challenging.

***
Blocked?
(Panicked?)
In need of inspiration?
Start by breathing. I swear, sometimes just a few breaths with eyes open or closed, help me feel more present and open possibilities.
Sometimes I seek out a little visual impetus in a medium I do not work in-- photography is a common source of inspiration for me-- I go onto flickr, type in something, a texture, a color, or a name of nearly anything and see what comes up *my favorites are rain and bokah*.
If you need words, pick one that feels like it has nothing to do with your piece-- choose something that has to do with how things move, or a smell... and then see if you can see how it *might* work in your piece, somewhere in the internal or external environment you are creating, or take its inverse--
try listening to random music, or just begin in the middle of the canvas with your eyes closed
use your non dominant hand
use an unfamiliar medium (CRAYONS??)
use an egg timer, just begin and do anything creative for 2 minutes, think of it as a warm up exercise
use a small post it note, just fill it, or just that space
start by painting your entire canvas a warm neutral tone
or start in the middle of the story
film upside down

Breathe and
BEGIN

For me? Back to bed for maybe a sweet hour. Then, a cup of tea, oatmeal with pumpkin pie spice, and a few fresh jars of water for my brushes. I cannot wait to get going! Check in and let me know how it is for you!
I'll be posting a few links for inspiration mid-morning.

Welcome to the Opening Campfire!

2011-12-09T17:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here!

My vision is a simple one:

It begins with creating an intention to take part in some sort of creative activity this weekend. It could be in real life, online, or all in your mind. You could be planning, trying something new, making a big mess, cleaning off a desk, finding your brushes or your muse... you could be reading something inspiring, making music, sitting and watching the moonrise... you could be baking, or ironing, or imagining.

And then, it is about building community. If you're so moved (and I hope you are), come on by over the course of the weekend and share! What are you up to? How does it feel? What stumbling blocks are you finding as you try to make (and protect) time to create? Comments are encouraged! I'll gather them up and share here in the main blog, and if you want, include links, send me images (icantwhistle at yahoo dot com), videos, whatever! See what other folks are up to.

The magic, for me, is to Know that you are out there too-- other creative people, working on projects or ideas or whatever, all in the same timeframe. I find the shared experience to be powerful stuff.

I wanted to say a little bit about permission: sometimes it is so hard to give ourselves permission to do creative work just for the joy of it. It is really easy to get so tied up in all that we have to do on a daily basis, that we forget that it is just as important to feed this part of ourselves. Creativity, at its best, is energizing and soul-feeding. If you can, see if you can give yourself permission to indulge in the gift of creating.

So-- if you're up for it, please share your intention! What do you envision for yourself this weekend? What do you hope for? What are you up against? How hard is it to give yourself permission?

If anyone is in need of specific prompts or ideas, just ask! And for any of you, be anonymous if you'd like, but please feel free to share. Sharing is what makes this so good.

Two cool things before I sign off: the campfire animation rocks when you click on it-- at least for me it opens in a dark page and is really lovely. And I have a pandora radio channel I've been tweaking for the weekend. Feel free to have a listen too!

I'll start by commenting my intention and then I'll be back in the morning for tea!

Mid December Campfire Invitation! December 9-11, 2011

2011-11-22T20:03:00.001-05:00

Mid December Campfire Invitation! December 9-11, 2011

You are invited to the Mid-December Campfire!

Please join me in adding some light to this dark season with our second
virtual creativity workshop!

When: December 9-11, 2011

Where: Right here! www.thatplacewego.blogspot.com

What: A totally free, open hearted on-line gathering of like-minded people!

The idea of the campfire began while Squam Art Workshops was taking place
close by and impossibly far, and I realized just how deeply I felt a longing
to be connected to other creative people, in a space that supported creative
exploration with beautiful scenery, amazing food, and opportunity to try new
things. I realized that even if I could not sign up to attend a real-life
workshop, that did not mean I could not gather with like minded folks,
joining energies to create our own space and intention to take some time to
explore, move projects ahead, try new things, make messes, meet new people,
take risks, or just fold into the welcoming arms of a beloved project. We
had a great time, and I hope you'll consider stopping by!

Come join me for a weekend of mindful creativity, of music, of mugs of
chocolate or tea or chai or yerba mate or coffee, of sky gazing, of navel
gazing, of painting or writing or thinking or sewing or imagining or trying
out that new software, that strange setting on your camera, that
needlepoint, that pair of purple tights with those red shoes, that walk in
the woods....

Creativity take so many forms, and there is no one right way-- just come and
join us, knowing folks around the globe are taking time, moments, hours,
whatever time possible in the context of real life to take part in creative
endeavors. If we wait until everything is perfect we'll never do it. So,
please join us! The energy of shared experience is magical, I promise.

Opening campfire, Friday evening, December 9th (or whenever you arrive!)

Please pass this invitation along to folks who you think might want to join
us. I look forward to seeing you here!